SEPTEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9NEWSROOMATOME & MAYA LOAN DEAL EYES FINANCIAL INCLUSIONAlibaba has invested in Hello, a Chinese ride-hailing firm backed by Ant Group, marking a significant step into the robotaxi sector.Announced on September 17, the investment will enable joint development of AI algorithms and smart driving technologies for commercial autonomous taxi fleets. Hello did not disclose the deal value but confirmed the collaboration will focus on improving vision, voice recognition, and intelligent cockpit systems for self-driving cars.This investment positions Alibaba to compete in the rapidly evolving global robotaxi race, joining the ranks of Tesla, Alphabet's Waymo, Baidu, Pony.ai, and WeRide. Baidu's Apollo Go has already completed over 11 million rides worldwide, underscoring the sector's growth potential.Key Highlights· Alibaba invests in Hello to develop AI-driven robotaxi technology· Hello recently launched its first robotaxi, the Hello Robot1· Partnership aims to boost China's position in the global autonomous taxi raceHello recently launched its first robotaxi, the Hello Robot1, intensifying domestic competition. Earlier in 2025, Hello partnered with Ant Group and Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), raising 3 billion yuan (US$422 million) to fuel its autonomous driving ambitions.The Alibaba­Hello partnership represents a strategic push to commercialize robotaxis in China by leveraging Alibaba's AI and cloud computing capabilities with Hello's ride-hailing experience. The move also reflects China's broader ambition to lead in autonomous mobility solutions, with the goal of making robotaxis a scalable, profitable service in the coming years. Southeast Asian digital finance platform Atome and Philippine digital bank Maya Bank have sealed a Pesos 2.75 billion (USD 48 million) loan channelling tie-up to enhance access to credit for underserved communities in the Philippines.The deal sees Maya Bank offer funding, which will be utilized by Atome to extend credit to qualifying consumers on its platform. The initiative focuses on responsible, risk-managed, and transparent lending as both companies strive to enhance financial inclusion in the digital economy of the country."We are deeply honoured to partner with Maya Bank, a true trailblazer in digital banking. This partnership helps make products and services truly `Available-To-Me' for millions of Filipinos." said Christian Quiros, president and country general manager of Atome Philippines.Key highlights:· Maya Bank will provide Pesos 2.75 billion (USD 48 million) in funding to Atome to expand access to credit for underserved Filipino consumers through its digital platform· The partnership emphasizes risk-managed, transparent, and responsible digital lending practices, supporting financial inclusion in the Philippines· This tie-up is part of a broader effort to build a resilient, inclusive digital financial ecosystem, leveraging technology to deliver fast and secure financing solutionsMaya Bank, which opened for business in 2022, will manage lending activities. As a registered digital bank, it presently offers holistic financial products like deposits, credit, and saving through channels like the Maya app, Maya Business, and Maya Centre."We are excited to partner with Atome to grow credit access. Through this partnership, digital technology is used to deliver quick, secure, and responsible lending into the hands of under-banked consumers." said Maya Bank President Angelo Madrid.Atome, which was established in Singapore in 2019, has grown from being embedded financing to providing cards, loans, insurance, and savings. In 2024, it registered more than USD 2 billion of Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), reaching more than USD 4 billion annualised GMV in mid-2025.The collaboration is part of a larger initiative to develop a more resilient and inclusive digital financial ecosystem for the Philippines. ALIBABA INVESTS IN HELLO TO ENTER CHINA'S ROBOTAXI MARKET
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